BIOMEMBRANE

Rondang R. Soegianto
2009
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MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
- Bilayer
- Fluid
- Asymmetric
- Dynamic
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COMPOSITION
- Lipid

Phospholipid
Sphingolipid
Cholesterol

- Protein

Extrinsic (Cytoskeleton)
Intrinsic (Transmembrane)

- Carbohydrate

Oligosaccharide
(Sialic acid)
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FUNCTION OF COMPONENTS
Phospholipid
- Interaction with membrane protein
- Effect on protein conformation
- Effect on membrane integrity
Sphingolipid
- Myelin sheath in nerves
Cholesterol
- Contributes to membrane strength
- Prevents sticking together of phsphlpd tails
- Controls diffusion of water into cells

Protein
Intrinsic:

- Transport
- Enzymes
- Receptors

Extrinsic: Cytoskeleton
Protein Membrane density
Membrane identity
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Carbohydrate
Located on outer surface
Glycoproteins involved in
- Cell-cell interaction
- Immune system to distinguish
self and non-self cells
- Blood group substances
(individually different but can be
matched)
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TRANSPORT
Simple Diffusion
- Small molecules: CO2, O2, H2O, Urea
Move from high to low concentration
- Facilitated Diffusion by carrier system
Transport along concentration gradient
Example: Glucose transporter (Glut)
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- Active Transport
Involves carrier protein (Transporter)
Requires chemical energy (ATP)
Moves particles against conc. gradient
Ex.: Na+, K+- ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase
Proton pump

Nature of Transport Process

Uniport: Ca-pump
Cotransport
Symport: Glucose absorption from
intestinal mucosa needs Na+
Antiport: Na-pump, ATP-ADP translocase
Anion exchanger (Band 3 in ery- .
throcytes)
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Transport of Macromolecules
Endocytosis
Receptor-mediated endocytosis
Glut 4 carries glucose into muscle and adipose
tissue after insulin binding to its receptor
Exocytosis
Ex.: In nerve synapse.
Vesicles containing neurotransmitter
fuse with membranes and secrete vesicle
content into synaptic gap.
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CELL COMMUNICATION
Cells communicate physically thru junctions.
Tight junction: Intestinal mucosa
Gap junctions: Cooperation of neighboring
cells
Desmosomes: Spot desmosome
Belt desmosome
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